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Air National Guard Recruiter Rapes New Recruit

Jennifer, United States Air Force

I joined the Air National Guard in 1996. Like everyone else, I had to go through a recruiter. I was in the process of applying for civilian police officer positions. I decided that joining the National Guard would not only be exciting but would supplement my resume and my income. I am very patriotic but I didn’t realize how much until I joined the military.

Shortly after joining the Guard, my recruiter, invited me to a “new recruit” party. I was very excited about meeting new people. The party was held at the recruiter’s house in a town about 45 minutes from where we were stationed. I arrived at his house and the only people there were his neighbors, a couple. One of them was in the Air National Guard with us. No one else showed up that night.

The recruiter immediately proceeded to commence in drinking games. It was his idea and he was the one serving all the drinks. We played quarters. I am horrible at quarters so he kept insisting that I drink and he kept serving me more alcohol. At one point, I had like five or more shots in front of me that he tried to pressure me to drink. After a little while, I started to get annoyed. I refused to drink anymore and didn’t care if I had 10 drinks in front of me. I wasn’t going to drink regardless of how much he pressured me. I eventually got up from the table and left the room. When I stood up, I felt dizzy.

I went into his livingroom and laid down on his couch. The recruiter and his neighbors stayed in the kitchen and continued to drink. I passed out. When I woke up, the neighbors were gone, the house was dark, and the recruiter was carrying me into his bedroom. I couldn’t move. I felt like I was outside my body watching everything. The recruiter raped me. I was physically unable to resist and mentally frozen. After he was done with me, he turned his back to me and went to sleep.

I passed out again and awoke around 4 or 5 in the morning, it was light out. I woke up in a panic, confused about what had happened. I put my clothes on and darted out of his house. He continued to sleep. I showered when I got home. I couldn’t face that I was raped. I felt so ashamed and blamed myself for being stupid. I should never have gone to his house in the first place.

Because he was in the Air National Guard, the chances of running into him increased. I couldn’t face what had happened so I avoided him like the plague. It wasn’t hard to do if I stayed out of the main building at the Station. I found out later that he had invited one other new recruit that I worked with. The other new recruit told me that he couldn’t find the recruiter’s house so he went home. He chocked it up to bad directions but I knew that it was intentional.

While attending technical school training at Keesler AFB, I met a fellow Air National Guard member. We got to talking about the recruiter. He told me that his female cousin wanted to join the Air National Guard and was also invited to a “new recruit” party. She, too, had been sexually assaulted by this recruiter. As a result, she did not join. My blood boiled when I learned about this information. I recognized the pattern immediately. I was so upset that I called the recruiter at work, flipped out on him, and told him that I was going to turn him in when I got home. I told him that I knew what he had done to the other woman as well. He hung up on me. I needed to get through my training knowing that when I got home, I would deal with him.

When I got home from technical school training, he was gone. He had quit a job that people just don’t quit. He had walked away from all the years he had put in and his retirement; he was a Technical Sargeant (E-6) in an AGR position (active duty Guard). I heard that he had moved to North Carolina. I felt satisfied that I had made an impact because he left, he was gone, and I didn’t have to turn him in and risk harming my career. I never wanted to see him again. I never told anyone, not even my friends and family, what happened.

I think the recruiter drugged me. And I never want to experience that out of control feeling ever again. As a result I rarely drink. When I do, I keep an eye on my drink and I am with people who make me feel safe. I have a hard time when my husband sleeps with his back to me. It shouldn’t be a big deal, but it triggers me because of that one night. I am sickened that this man is still out there preying on other innocent victims. He is by all accounts a serial rapist, using the same modus operandi. This was the first of four perpetrators I encountered in the first two years of service to my country.

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10 comments

Oh Jennifer, my heart breaks for you. How long did it take for you tell anyone? I took me over 15 years before I told a soul. I was sexually assaulted by a fellow airman who’s dormroom was right next to mine. I was also physically assaulted by one of my roomate’s boyfriends. It bothers me more now because I have so much anger that I didn’t tell anyone and let them get away with it. My friends and family for years wondered what was wrong with me because I was so different, stressed, anxious, depressed and I would drink a lot. You are not alone. It took me a long time to realize that I am not alone but it still hurts and I still don’t trust people. God bless you and May God help so many others in similar situations. AIC Monacelli

It took me 16 years to tell this story. This is the first time I told anyone about the details. I eventually reported him and 3 others to my Commander in 1998. The recruiter moved out of state so there was nothing we could do about it in a military justice setting. The only other people I talked to about it were mental health professionals off and on throughout the years. I felt it was my duty to report all of them to the Commander. The Commander treated me very well but my chain of command at the squadron, who didn’t know all the details, drove me out and forced me to transfer to another duty station. The officers in the case were supportive because they knew all that had happened; the enlisted personnel in my chain of command – not so much. My career went down the tubes and I went from hero to zero overnight.

Right on Jim :) Thankfully the taxpayer isn’t paying for this guy for the rest of his life. The others will be generously taken care of compliments of the US government. One was allowed to retire as a MSgt with full benefits and insurance, no public record of his actions; One is working at the Pentagon last I knew and had been promoted to MSgt, he’s gotta be a SMSgt by now; apparently no one cares what he’s done. And, the last one was a MSgt last I knew and is probably finishing up a 20 year active duty tour; he’s looking forward to retiring with some damn good taxpayer money. We the people are paying them while they do it.

Evidentally this is not uncommon! I’m a guy and much the same happened to me in the NAVY. The level above leutenant above the chief told me that what happened to you would happen to me: I’d be the lier and the chief would be innocent in that I was new and he a lifer. the review board refuses to respond i that I can’t prove what happened 50+ years ago!

Ma’am, I can only say one thing: thank you :-) Thank you for having rendered that brainless animal guilty. And thank you for having reassured me that women of courage still exist! I wish you happiness and enlightenment all throughout your life. God bless.

I am feeling soory for you . But one thing i like at leaset you tired to confront him ;I thinck someone should also sue such things in civilian courts as well. …… Militarty higher ups should also beed to devise strategy to cope up with such brutel assults.

Personally, I think you should still report this to authorities. It is a crime and there could be more victims in the future. I commend you for having the bravery to finally tell your story, but not reporting it to authorities could allow more vulnerable women to be raped! Please file a report, just so it’s on record. Best of luck to you in the future!!